Union minister forced to vacate five-star hotel

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee is one of the few austere people in the Union government: She hasn’t availed of a huge bungalow, an official car or any of the special railway saloons while travelling. It therefore came as a huge surprise to her when one of her partymen, minister of state for tourism Sultan Ahmed, ran up a bill of Rs37 lakh after staying six months in the government-owned five-star Hotel Ashoka.

Banerjee was quick to react. She asked Ahmad to vacate the suite and pay the difference in the bill after deducting whatever he is entitled to get as minister. Ahmed was suitably chastened. “I was made to believe by officials that my bills will be paid by Indian Tourism Development Corporation. I regret this. I am ready to pay the bill,” said Ahmed.

The minister, who had been staying at the hotel since June, was allotted an official residence but it is being renovated.